Algeria AH 1208 sultani

Sincona sale 38, lot 1026

This specimen was lot 1026 in Sincona sale 38 (Zurich, May 2017), where it sold for 900 CHF (about US$1,079 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"Selim III. 1203-122 AH (1789-1807) Sultani 1208 AH (1793). Jazâir. Sehr schön-vorzüglich. (Algeria, Selim III (1789-1807), gold sultani of 1793, Very fine-extremely fine.)"

Friedberg lists no gold coins for Algeria prior to Mahmud II (r. 1808-37). The sultani may have been intended to compete with the Venetian ducat familiar throughout the Mediterranean but we doubt the bey had access to enough gold to make a serious dent. Very similar sultanis from Tunisia also exist.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specifications: 3.25-3.40 g, gold, this specimen 3.39 g.

Catalog reference: Pere 690, KM 41.

Sources:

• Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
• ^[1]Jürg Richter, Auction 38, Gold Coins and Medals, Zurich: Sincona AG, 2017.

Link to:

• Algeria AH 1141 sultani
• Algeria AH 1162 1/4 sultani
• Tunisia AH 1186 sultani
• AH 1198 ¼ budju
• Coins and currency dated 1793
• return to coins of Algeria